Compare towns
Ashford vs Bethlehem vs Deep River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ashford | Bethlehem | Deep River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226 |
3,423Lowest |
4,458Highest |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Ashford and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
| Ashford and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18kLowest 9% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$362,200±$26k about the CT average |
| Bethlehem and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,221±$185 18% below CT |
| Ashford and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$5,932Lowest 11% below CT |
$6,092 8% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1974Lowest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #90 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #70 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Regional School District 14 | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.